28 July 2025 European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andryus Kubilius said, that countries, which are not members of the EU, particularly Norway, Ukraine and Great Britain, can join the European IRIS² secure satellite communications network, which is positioned as an alternative to Starlink from Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Details of the IRIS² program
IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite) is an ambitious and expensive EU initiative 10,6 billion euros, which involves creating a constellation of approx 290 satellites in low and medium Earth orbits. System, the launch of which is planned for the 2030s, will provide secure communication for govt, defense and commercial needs of the participating countries. In December 2024 The European Commission signed a 12-year contract with the SpaceRISE consortium, which includes European SES operators (Luxembourg), Hisdesat (PildoLabs), Viasat (Great Britain) not Eutelsat/OneWeb (France/Great Britain), to create and operate IRIS². The first services are expected in 2025 year, and full operational readiness - after 2030 year.
Potential participation of countries
- Norway: Already negotiating with the European Commission to join IRIS². As a member of the European Economic Area (EEZ), Norway has close ties with the EU and actively supports space security initiatives.
- Iceland: At the beginning of July 2025 completed negotiations on participation in the program, becoming the first EEA country, which joined IRIS².
- Great Britain: Has significant experience in the space industry, in particular through Viasat and Eutelsat/OneWeb, which are part of the SpaceRISE consortium. Although the negotiations have not yet started, Kubilyus emphasized its potential as a valuable partner.
- Ukraine: Has not started official negotiations, but its potential is recognized thanks to the legacy of the space industry, in particular, enterprises in Dnipro and Kharkiv, who developed rockets and satellites. Ukraine actively uses Starlink for military communications during the war with Russia, which makes IRIS² an attractive alternative.
Context and motivation
Growing dependence on Starlink, especially in Ukraine, where the system provides critical frontline communications, caused concern in Europe due to SpaceX's dominance of the satellite communications market. Events, such as a global Starlink failure 24 July 2025 year, that lasted 2,5 hours due to software issues, emphasized the need for diversification. in addition, Russia said, that European satellites, who support Ukraine, may be considered "legitimate purposes", which increases the need for an autonomous communication system.
IRIS² is designed to reduce dependence on foreign providers and increase resilience to external threats, in particular, GPS and satellite signal interference. Kubilyus noted, that the US has not yet expressed a negative reaction to the EU Space Act, which may limit SpaceX's access to European consumers in the future.
Value for participants
Joining IRIS² will allow Ukraine, Great Britain and Norway to access a secure communication system, which will strengthen their defense capabilities and commercial capabilities. This is especially important for Ukraine in the context of the war, where reliable communication is critical. Great Britain can strengthen its position in the European space industry, and Norway to expand its role in regional security. EU Space Law, although it takes several years to complete, will set new rules for space operators, which may affect the global market.
Source: https://www.euractiv.com